# Accident 20131130023879A: Piper PA-28-181, Rolla, ND, November 30, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 30, 2013, 19:30 local time
- Place: Rolla, ND
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.5200° N, 99.1200° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5200&lon=-99.1200&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6780F, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6780F-2017-09-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-181 (registry code 7102807, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Reported engine: LYCOMMING O360
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 250 total, 250 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN14LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA074) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131130023879A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVED A COMPUTER WEATHER BRIEFING INDICATING MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS AT DEPARTING AIRPORT WITH IFR CONDITIONS ENROUTE AND MARGINAL VFR AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT.  TEMPERATURES AND CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR ICING.  THE PILOT DID A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION AND WAS FULL OF FUEL AT DEPARTURE.  THE PILOT DID NOT FILE A FLIGHT PLAN. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE INTERNATIONAL FALLS AIRPORT (KINL) AT APPROXIMATELY 1630 HOURS.  ENROUTE THE PILOTED NOTICED THAT HE WAS LOSING ALTITUDE.  A PASSENGER STATED TO 1ST RESPONDERS THAT THE PILOT SHINED A FLASH LIGHT OUT ON THE WING AND STATED HE SAW ICE.  THE PILOT STATED HE SAW ICE AND GAVE IT FULL POWER AND COULD NOT HOLD ALTITUDE.  THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK SMALL TREES AND ALL FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACE WERE TORN FROM THE FUSELAGE.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A WETLAND.  THE PILOT AND 2 PASSENGERS WERE HOSPITALIZED. DURING A POST ACCIDENT INTERVIEW THE PILOT STATED HE HAD LOST VISUAL REFERENCE WITH THE GROUND.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN14LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA074), Dec 1, 2013: Piper PA 28-181 (N6780F), Rock Lake, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The noninstrument-rated pilot’s failure to obtain weather briefings immediately before and during the flight and his continued flight into icing conditions, which resulted in the airplane’s loss of…

## Other reports on N6780F (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19990502015939I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990502015939I), May 2, 1999: Piper PA28181 (N6780F), Lakeville, MN, Minor damage. Blown by crosswind off left side of runway. Struck runway lites.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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